Weed killer trains are an essential part of the maintenance of the railway and run all over the rail network but, perhaps surprisingly, despite the closure of the steelworks at Consett and lack of trains on the line, they were still to be seen as late as June 1983 as seen in these photographs.
The first three coaches are modified MK1 coaches but the fourth is DE320995, an ex LNER Gresley Open Brake Third (BTO) coach, close up photographs of which can be found here and here. I believe that this coach still exists at the Colne Valley Railway in Essex.
The tank wagons are ex Texaco wagons, further photographs of which can be found here.
